Cutting tool

Abstract

A tool for preparing a substrate edge of a counter-top to accept a molded apron having at least two perpendicular appendages. The tool includes cutters for cutting a channel and/or a rabbet into the substrate edge. The spacing between the cutting edges of the cutters corresponds to a spacing between the perpendicular appendages of the molded apron.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tool for preparing an edge surface of a substrate for an apron molding having at least two perpendicular appendages separated by a predetermined distance, the tool comprising: a) a shaft including a shank section and a holding section, said holding section having a first end and a second, threaded, end;   b) a trim cutter disposed on said holding section of said shaft and adjacent to said shank section of said shaft;   c) a first molding cutter having an inside edge and having a cutting surface with an inside edge, said first molding cutter being arranged on said holding section of said shaft between said trim cutter and said second end of said holding section of said shaft;   d) an assembly, said assembly including i) a ball bearing assembly for engaging an edge surface of the substrate and for limiting a depth of a cutting, and   ii) at least one spacer,      wherein said assembly has a total width, and wherein said assembly is disposed on said holding section of said shaft between said first molding cutter and said second end of said holding section of said shaft;   e) a second molding cutter having an inside edge and having a cutting surface with an inside edge, said second molding cutter being arranged on said holding section of said shaft between said assembly and said second end of said holding section of said shaft; and   f) a nut, said nut located on said second end of holding section of said shaft and holding and fixing said trim cutter, said first molding cutter, said assembly, and said second molding cutter on said shaft,   wherein a sum of the total width of the assembly, a distance between said inside edge of said first molding cutter and said inside edge of its cutting surface, and a distance between said inside edge of said second molding cutter and said inside edge of its cutting surface is substantially equal to the predetermined distance between the two perpendicular appendages of the apron molding.   
     
     
       2. The tool of claim 1 wherein said first molding cutter includes a further cutting surface to cut a bevel, and wherein said second molding cutter includes a further cutting surface to cut a bevel. 
     
     
       3. The tool of claim 1 wherein said first molding cutter includes a further cutting surface to round out an edge, and wherein said second molding cutter includes a further cutting surface to round out an edge. 
     
     
       4. The tool of claim 1 wherein said at least one spacer includes two spacers. 
     
     
       5. The tool of claim 4 wherein said two spacers are arranged on opposite sides of said ball bearing assembly. 
     
     
       6. The tool of claim 1 wherein said at least one spacer has a first total width and can be replaced with at least one replacement spacer having a second total width slightly less than said first total width. 
     
     
       7. The tool of claim 1 wherein said first molding cutter is a rabbet cutter and said second molding cutter is a rabbet cutter. 
     
     
       8. The tool of claim 1 wherein said first molding cutter is a rabbet cutter and said second molding cutter is a channel cutter. 
     
     
       9. The tool of claim 1 wherein said first molding cutter is a channel cutter and said second molding cutter is a rabbet cutter. 
     
     
       10. The tool of claim 1 wherein the first molding cutter is a channel cutter and said second molding cutter is a channel cutter. 
     
     
       11. The tool of claim 1 wherein said shank has a diameter which is at least one fifth of the greater of the diameter of the first molding cutter and the diameter of the second molding cutter. 
     
     
       12. A tool for preparing an edge surface of a substrate for an apron molding having a first, a second, and a third perpendicular appendage, the first and second appendages separated by a first predetermined distance and the second and third appendages separated by a second predetermined distance, the tool comprising: a) a shaft including a shank section and a holding section, said holding section having a first end and a second, threaded, end;   b) a trim cutter disposed on said holding section of said shaft and adjacent to said shank section of said shaft;   c) a first molding cutter having an inside edge and having a cutting surface with an inside edge, said first molding cutter being arranged on said holding section of said shaft between said trim cutter and said second end of said holding section of said shaft;   d) a first assembly, said first assembly including i) a ball bearing assembly for engaging an edge surface of the substrate and for limiting a depth of a cut, and   ii) at least one spacer,      wherein said first assembly has a total width, and wherein said first assembly is arranged on said holding section of said shaft between said first molding cutter and said second end of said holding section of said shaft;   e) a channel cutter, said channel cutter having a right edge and a left edge and having a cutting surface having a right edge and a left edge, said channel cutter being arranged on said holding section of said shaft between said first assembly and said second end of said holding section of said shaft;   f) a second assembly, said second assembly including i) a ball bearing assembly, and   ii) at least one spacer,      wherein said second assembly has a total width, and wherein said second assembly is arranged on said holding section of said shaft between said channel cutter and said second end of said holding section of said shaft;   g) a second molding cutter having an inside edge and having a cutting surface with an inside edge, said second molding cutter being arranged on said holding section of said shaft between said second assembly and said second end of said holding section of said shaft; and   h) a nut, said nut located on said second end of holding section of said shaft and holding and fixing said trim cutter, said first molding cutter, said first assembly, said channel cutter, said second assembly, and said second molding cutter on said shaft,   wherein a sum of the total width of the first assembly, a distance between said inside edge of said first molding cutter and said inside edge of its cutting surface, and a distance between said left edge of said channel cutter and said left edge of its cutting surface is substantially equal to the first predetermined distance between the first and second perpendicular appendages of the apron molding, and   wherein a sum of the total width of the second assembly, a distance between said inside edge of said second molding cutter and said inside edge of its cutting surface, and a distance between said right edge of said channel cutter and said right edge of its cutting surface is substantially equal to the second predetermined distance between the second and third perpendicular appendages of the apron molding.   
     
     
       13. The tool of claim 12 wherein said first molding cutter includes a further cutting surface to cut a bevel, wherein said second molding cutter includes a further cutting surface to cut a bevel, and wherein said channel cutter includes two further cutting surfaces to cut bevels. 
     
     
       14. The tool of claim 12 wherein said first molding cutter includes a further cutting surface to round out an edge, wherein said second molding cutter includes a further cutting surface to round out an edge, and wherein said channel cutter includes two further cutting surfaces to round out edges. 
     
     
       15. The tool of claim 12 wherein said at least one spacer of said first assembly includes two spacers. 
     
     
       16. The tool of claim 12 wherein said at least one spacer of said second assembly includes two spacers. 
     
     
       17. The tool of claim 15 wherein said two spacers are arranged on opposite sides of said ball bearing assembly of said first assembly. 
     
     
       18. The tool of claim 16 wherein said two spacers are arranged on opposite sides of said ball bearing assembly of said second assembly. 
     
     
       19. The tool of claim 12 wherein said at least one spacer of said first assembly has a first total width and can be replaced with at least one replacement spacer having a second total width slightly less than said first total width. 
     
     
       20. The tool of claim 12 wherein said at least one spacer of said second assembly has a first total width and can be replaced with at least one replacement spacer having a second total width slightly less than said first total width. 
     
     
       21. A kit which can be assembled as a tool for preparing an edge surface of a substrate for an apron molding having at least two perpendicular appendages, the kit comprising: a) a shaft including a shank section and a holding section, said holding section having a first end and a second, threaded, end;   b) a trim cutter which can be arranged on said holding section of said shaft;   c) a first molding cutter having a cutting surface having a first width, said first molding cutter can be arranged on said holding section of said shaft;   d) a ball bearing assembly which can be arranged on said holding section of said shaft;   e) at least one spacer which can be arranged on said holding section of said shaft and having a first total width;   f) a second molding cutter having a cutting surface having a second total width, said second molding cutter can be arranged on said holding section of said shaft;   g) a nut which can be secured to said second end of holding section of said shaft, said nut for holding and fixing other elements of the kit on said shaft; and   h) at least one replacement spacer which can be arranged on said holding section of said shaft and having a second total width which is slightly less than said first total width in an amount corresponding to a change in said first width of said cutting surface of said first molding cutter and in said second width of said cutting surface of said second molding cutter if said first and second molding cutters are sharpened.